THE EXAMS POINTEarth: composition versus physical behaviour
Begin at the centre. Explore a branch, explain its connection, then test your recall. Tap any branch heading to fold or expand it.
In recall mode, focus or tap a branch to reveal its explanation. Branches group related ideas; they do not imply a chronological sequence.
Earth: composition versus physical behaviour
01 · Crust
Outermost compositional layer; oceanic and continental crust differ.
02 · Mantle
Mostly solid rock; slow deformation supports convection over geological time.
03 · Core
Outer core is liquid; inner core is solid under very high pressure.
04 · Lithosphere
Rigid crust plus uppermost mantle; it is not the same as crust alone.
Connect the branches
The crust–mantle–core model describes composition; lithosphere and asthenosphere describe mechanical behaviour.
Avoid the exam trap
The mantle is not a global ocean of liquid magma.
Test yourself: Does the lithosphere contain only crust?
No. It includes the crust and the rigid uppermost mantle.
A concise revision aid with simplified connections. It supports the full chapter and primary references; it does not replace them.